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Basecamp

Basecamp

Overview

What is Basecamp?

Basecamp is a web-based project-management tool. Basecamp offers features standard to project management platforms, as well as mobile accessibility, unlimited users, and 3rd party integrations. Basecamp is priced by space requirements and concurrent projects.

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Recent Reviews
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Popular Features

View all 18 features
  • Task Management (117)
    5.3
    53%
  • Team Collaboration (117)
    4.7
    47%
  • Document Management (109)
    4.2
    42%
  • Resource Management (98)
    4.1
    41%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Basecamp Business

$99

Cloud
Per Month [Unlimited Users]

Basecamp Personal

Free

Cloud
Limited Capabilities

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://basecamp.com/pricing

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $15 per month per user
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Product Demos

Basecamp Demo

YouTube

Garmin Basecamp demo - Part III

YouTube

Garmin Basecamp demo - Part II

YouTube

Basecamp - 2-minute Demo

YouTube

Garmin Basecamp demo - Part I

YouTube

Basecamp Project Management Review

YouTube
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Features

Project Management

Project management software provides capabilities to streamline management of complex projects through task management, team collaboration and workflow automation

4.2
Avg 7.5

Professional Services Automation

Features that support professional services organizations

7.8
Avg 7.4
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Product Details

What is Basecamp?

Basecamp is a web-based project-management tool developed by 37signals in Chicago and launched in 2004. The Ruby on Rails framework was extracted from the Basecamp project.

Basecamp offers features standard to project management platforms, including to-do lists, wiki-style web-based text documents, milestone management, file sharing, time tracking and a calendar, and a messaging system. Mobile accessibility is supported. Notably, it supports unlimited users. It also offers integration with 37signals' own Campfire product, which expands the group messaging functionality of the core platform. Customization, accessibility, and functionality are extended further by the broad range of apps available for free from 3rd parties. A 2-month free trial is available. Pricing is dependent upon space requirements and the number of concurrent projects, not the number of users.

Basecamp Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Basecamp is a web-based project-management tool. Basecamp offers features standard to project management platforms, as well as mobile accessibility, unlimited users, and 3rd party integrations. Basecamp is priced by space requirements and concurrent projects.

Basecamp starts at $15.

Asana, Brightpod, and Birdview are common alternatives for Basecamp.

Reviewers rate Quotes/estimates highest, with a score of 8.3.

The most common users of Basecamp are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(1260)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Based on user reviews, here are the three most common recommendations for Basecamp:

  1. Learn and Utilize Basecamp's Features: Users recommend taking the time to learn about all of Basecamp's features and functions. They suggest getting training or working with someone experienced in Basecamp to fully utilize the platform. This recommendation helps users make the most out of their Basecamp experience.

  2. Set Up a Standardized System: Many users suggest setting up a system or process that everyone can follow when using Basecamp. This recommendation helps to ensure consistency and streamline project management within teams.

  3. Consider Other Tools for Advanced Functionalities: While users find Basecamp handy for organizing projects, offering instructions and feedback, some reviewers suggest using a more advanced tool, like Monday.com, for large teams collaborating on projects. They advise evaluating additional functionalities and comparing prices before deciding on Basecamp.

Overall, users recommend considering Basecamp as a low-cost option for small teams with straightforward projects. It is recommended for organizing projects, managing workflows, facilitating team cooperation, linking departments, coordinating tasks, and storing data. However, users caution against using it for purposes other than its intended use and highlight that compared to more advanced tools, it might seem basic and limited in benefits. It is also suggested to stay updated with appropriate titles and efficiently organize projects while using Basecamp. Additionally, Google Drive is recommended for file management purposes.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
February 22, 2019

Basecamp Review

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  • Organization of project material and communication across multiple teams within the business.
  • Collaboration, file management, timekeeping.
  • Time savings.
25
Product
Innovation
Marketing
Pricing
Technology
Finance
Project Management
5
  • We use this product as our main project management tool.
  • Implemented in-house
  • Self-taught
easy to learn - absolutely self explanatory
Great ui/ux very intuitive workflow
No
  • salesforce, rally
Lisa Keyser | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
As a freelancer serving a variety of clients, I needed a way to organize each project. After looking at different options, I settled on Basecamp for several reasons. First, is has a tiered pricing structure that will allow my business to grow when needed. Second, it helps prevent the dreaded lost/buried email problem. When you're corresponding with over a dozen different clients in any one week, it can be impossible to keep tabs on the important emails even with a convoluted system of folders and starred items. Basecamp keeps everything organized and in one place. Third, it allows me to set deadlines that are integrated with my calendar, so I get notifications on my phone when items are due. Finally, the document storage and ability to have comment threads attached to documents is extremely useful. I can post draft design options and the client can give feedback in the same spot, rather than needing to refer to an email attachment or download from remote storage.
  • I really enjoy the ability to pick and choose which participants of a particular Basecamp will get each conversation thread and reply.
  • The To-Do list feature is one of the most useful that I've found anywhere, with the big plus that I can subscribe to the feed from my Google calendar.
  • While this feature is only for Gmail users, I'm a big fan of the new "View on Basecamp" button that appears in the preview of every email from Basecamp. That way I don't even need to open the email, I can just click the link and reply directly on the thread itself.
  • Many of my clients enjoy the ability to reply to threads via email, rather than needing to login to their Basecamp account just to send a quick response.
  • Basecamp's search feature could use some filtering. For example, I should be able to just search files or to-do lists.
  • I wish that the main projects page had more information about each project, specifically what date it started, how many people are in the project, and if there are any upcoming deadlines. While you can find this information currently, it's in several different areas. The start date in particular is a pain to find.
  • For projects with a lot of files, I would appreciate a feature that allowed sorting them into categories or some sort of hierarchical grouping. Currently they are all together with the most recently-discussed files appearing first and older ones one another page.
I find Basecamp uniquely well-suited to my occupation as a freelance web designer and developer. One of newer features makes it especially suitable; recently Basecamp added the ability to define your team and hide certain items from the client. I think it would also shine as a project management tool for smaller organizations and nonprofits looking for an easy-to-use platform. It wouldn't work well in extremely large organizations, especially for its lack of a reports feature. However, smaller teams within large organizations could utilize it to keep on task with projects. When evaluating Basecamp or similar software, important questions would include: How many people will be using the Basecamp? How much file storage space do we require? Do we need the ability to generate status reports? How important is integration with other software currently in use?
  • While it's difficult to quantify, Basecamp has had a very positive ROI for my business. It helps tick up my status as a professional another notch just due to the fact that I require my clients to use it.
  • Basecamp also allows me to keep better track of deadlines, thus more of my projects have been on-time since I started using it. Not only that, but my clients now have a clearer understanding of how deadlines work and what can cause delays, especially since those delays are often due to lack of feedback on the clients' part. When there are delays, clients are much more understanding since it's obvious the ball is in their court and my hands are tied.
  • Because Basecamp helps keep both me and my clients on task with assigned due dates, I find that I'm turning over projects faster, which in turn means I can take on new clients sooner. In 2014 I launched 50% more websites than the previous year, in no small part thanks to Basecamp keeping everyone on task.
1
  • Project Management - Working with external clients to keep projects on task and sharing documents between various parties involved
  • Internal Task Management - For internal tracking of various client to-do lists. The internal Basecamp project is maintained by direct staff and support staff to keep all lists in one spot, accessible from anywhere.
  • Contractor Collaboration - In one case, a client has various external contractors working in concert on one project, located all over the world. A single Basecamp project was setup for assignation of duties and deadlines to the various contractors as they each complete a piece of the workflow.
I can't foresee ever cancelling my account with Basecamp, but rather upgrading it when I get to that point when I'm ready to expand. One of the most exciting aspects for me is the company's continued commitment to the software in the form of consistent improvements and new features. While I've never needed to contact support, I do read each of the rare communications sent out by the team behind Basecamp, and their enthusiasm for their own software is palpable. I've recommended it to other freelancers, and I look forward to using Basecamp to continue increasing my productivity in the coming year and beyond.
  • Implemented in-house
  • To-Do lists; including creating them and assigning them to individuals within the project.
  • Uploading files and getting feedback on them.
  • Collaborating with team members behind the scene and out of view of clients.
  • If you have a lot of projects, I've found that searching for older discussion threads can be annoying.
Yes
The mobile interface works pretty well. I don't use it very often, simply because the majority of the time I'm working on my desktop, but it's been useful when I was remote and needed to respond to a discussion or share something.
I find it extremely easy to use, though as a tech-savvy person, it takes some fairly obnoxious software for me to have difficulty. However, I have found that occasionally some clients don't understand how the subject line and discussion body work when creating a new post, and sometimes have difficulty understanding where to respond and will create new threads with feedback, rather than replying on the old one. I don't think Basecamp can help this, however, without severely annoying those of us who find it highly intuitive.
I've never experienced downtime while using Basecamp, or been unable to access it when I needed it. That's not to say they've never had downtime, but I've been lucky enough not to encounter any, and I work odd hours, including late nights when maintenance is often undertaken.
Jenni Waggoner | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  • Keeps large teams on track for project completion.
  • Love that you can schedule recurring projects in advance and assign all the tasks out - turns us into a well-oiled machine.
  • Linking tasks! I would love it if you could move one task and it would ripple to all the following ones.
  • Went from 200k emails a month to about 3MM.
Easy to use and train people on. Can incorporate external vendors into projects.
  • Tracks projects, timelines, and assignments.
Jira.
Looked at
  • Microsoft Project - too cumbersome for our agile projects.
  • Liquid Planner - too costly.
  • Tom's Planner - just a scheduling program and difficult to update.
  • Implemented in-house
Decide the process before implementation - i.e. when it's due 8/9 does that mean 8am, noon, 5pm, 11:59pm?
Check your to-do list frequently
Set-up templates - just not with the dates (they can be funky)
  • Self-taught
It was easy to learn. I do think there should be some best practices implemented before you switch to this platform.
No
Don't think it's an option.
Sarah Schick | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  • This product makes it very easy to share and comment on files, images, etc.
  • Because of the layout of the interface, it really helps enhance the initial brainstorming and design processes.
  • Because it is hosted online, it is easy to quickly access the system in case we need to quick reference a project in meetings and presentations.
  • The interface is a little bit hard to navigate for newer users sometimes. It helps if you clearly label and name your projects so it is easier to locate them later.
  • We are simplifying our submission process to the development team, which definitely makes them happier as they can spend more of their time focusing on project tasks.
This software has been very helpful in the project management on our team.
The format of this software is less formal and more fun, which definitely fits our laid-back team atmosphere better.
  • We use this software to help manage our mock/design process, as well as lay out the projects before we write product specifications and submit them to the development team to build.
We added this product to supplement our current project management software.
It was affordable and we were able to use a free version before committing to paying for the software.
  • Implemented in-house
We were able to get our projects up and running very quickly on this software.
  • Self-taught
This product is extremely easy to learn very quickly.
I've never had to use customer support. The software is intuitive enough that it is very easy to pick up and learn immediately.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
  • Great white label product if you are an agency that has multiple customers or clients needing a web-browser accessible sandbox for brainstorming, concept tracking, version control, copy deck review and all communication resulting from the creative digital process. It was easy to create templates of repeatable process steps and reduced manual labor/input in regards to a project tracking/timeline perspective. Dates were altered but high level tasks often were the same.
  • Our team at the time did not use it for time tracking. It seemed more of a nuisance than a convenience.
  • Build client trust since there was 100% visibility/transparency of decisions being made and a record of documentation behind those decisions. Also cut down on client communication on project status since they could log in 24/7 to gain access to the latest meeting notes or presentation materials.
15
Development, UX, QA, designer, project manager.
15
  • It was used daily to organize a smart but administratively lazy creative team at an old company I worked at. It kept everyone on task and prioritized issues that required immediate attention across multiple projects.
  • Implemented in-house
  • Self-taught
Yes, out of the box. Insanely easy. A junior high schooler could master it in a day.
No
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